Adjustable drag for tedder



March 28; 1961 A. R. CUNNINGHAM Re. 24,

' ADJUSTABLE DRAG FOR 'IEDDER Original Filed Feb. 25, 1958 INVENT OR.

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United States Patent 24,957 ADJUSTABLE DRAG FOR TEDDER Arthur RaymondCunningham, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cunningham & Sons, Chicago, 11].,a partnership No. 2,899,795, dated Aug. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 717,345, Feb.25, 1958. Application for reissue Oct. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 844,602

12 Claims. (Cl. 56-370) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to an improvement in an adjustable dragdevice for a hay tedder, or for a comparable tined type of mobileimplement employed in the field handling of hay and other cut grasses.

The tedder of the present invention comprises a bank of rotatable tineunits, each including a circumferential series of curved, radiallyspaced radial tines, there being a plurality of the rotative time unitsspace longitudinally along a common axis. It is the purpose of thesetine units, as the tedder is advanced, to either walk along the groundsurface or if supported on ground wheels, to be rotated by the tractionof engagement with cut hay, in either case to lift the hay in loosebundles and drop it to the rear in a loosened, ruffled condition whichenhances its drying. It has been found that the tine units, particularlywhen ground wheel supported, sometimes spin too fast and fail to pick upthe hay satisfactorily.

Therefore, a general object of the present invention is to provide anadjustable drag of simple, inexpensive character, for a tine implementof the type described, whereby a desired degree of resistance may beimposed on the free rotation of the time units, thereby to prevent theirspinning at excessive speed and improve their tedding actionaccordingly.

More specifically, it is an object to provide an adjustable drag forthis function which is in the form of a length of flexible, wearresistant material such as canvas, flexible composition material or thelike.

Another object is to provide a drag as described, in which the flexiblemember is rolled in reel form about a transverse trunnion mounted by theimplement frame. The flexible drag extends and depends forwardly anddownwardly over the tops and curved ends of the rotating tines,frictionally impeding the same as desired, as well as assisting inpreventing possible clogging between adjacent tines.

A further object is to provide an anti-spin drag in the form of aflexible member having frictional wiping engagement with rotating tines,in which the provisions for mounting the drag member on the tedder framepermit adjustment of the depending length of the drag, withcorresponding control of the degree of anti-spin drag exerted thereby.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, especially when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view more or less conventionallyillustrating a tine-wheel type tedder equipped with the improved drag ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, somewhat enlarged, side elevational view of theequipment;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section in enlarged scale along line 3-3 ofFig. 2, further showing the manner of coiling a drag for desired'letout; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view in enlarged scale, from thearrow 4 of Fig. 1, of adjustable Re. 24,957 Reissued Mar. 28, 1961clamping means for the ends of the mounting trunnion about which thedrag is wound. I

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 generallydesignates a hay tedder unit or attachment. It is characterized by anangle iron draft frame 12, including rearwardly divergent yoke arms 13paralleling one another at rear angled extensions 15. There is also acentral draft tongue 17 on the frame 12, and the rear frame extensions15 and tongue 17 are provided with rearwardly and upwardly inclinedbraces or brackets 19. These brackets, with the assistance of further,more abruptly upward brackets 20, support a pair of transversely alignedangle irons 21 to provide a cross support. The tedder includes an axialseries of tine carrying Wheels, comprised of parallel tedder tine units23 appropriately journalled in frame and draft tongue pillow blocks 25.The tedder units 23 include curvedly ended tines 27 of resilient wirestock, and the cross members 21 in part sustain Sheet metal guards 29disposed between The reference numeral 30 generally designates theadjustable drag of the present improvement. It includes a suitabletransverse trunnion 32, preferably in the form of a pipe of appropriatediameter, of a length to extend the full transverse distance across theside frame and tongue brackets 19, and the ends and middle of thetrunnion pipe 32 are received and adjustably anchored by coacting woodenclamp blocks 34 bolted to the upper and rear ends of the brackets 19.Blocks 34 are providedwith appropriate arcuate seats 36 for thereception of the trunnion ends, between which said ends are fixedlyclamped by bolts or studs 37.

A flexible drag member 38 of canvas, flexible reinforced fabric orcomposition, or other suitable drag material, of a transverse Widthapproximating the distance between the respective frame extensions 15and the tongue 17, is secured along one horizontal'margin thereof to thetrunnions 32 on either side of tongue 17. The remainder of the drag 38is wound in clockwise direction about the trunnion 32, as viewed in Fig.3, and its opposite free margin projects outwardly, forwardly anddownwardly over the ends of the time units 23. This margin is preferablyappropriately weighted, as at a transverse hem member 40, enabling thedrag edge to fall into the spaces between successive curved tines as thesame rotate forwardly and counterclockwise in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 3.

This imposes a desired frictional drag upon the tine units 23, theextent of which is determined by the degree of unwinding of the drag 38.This is easily adjusted by loosening the clamp blocks 34 and unreelingdrag as may be required by the field conditions encountered, then takingup the bolts 37.

An anti-spin drag of very economical construction yet efficientoperation is provided which greatly improves the' pick up ability of thetines, to correspondingly improve the performance of the implement as awhole.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An adjustable drag to control spin of a tedder or like fieldimplement having a frame rotatively supporting an axial series of tinecarrying wheels, comprismg a cross support carried by said frame andextending across the said tine wheels, and a flexible sheet-like dragmember having means securing the same to said support to extendtherefrom to a position in the path of movement of said tine wheels tobe successively frictionally engaged from beneath by the titles of saidwheels to control spin thereof.

2. An adjustable drag to control spin of a tedder or like fieldimplement having a frame rotatively supporting an axial series of tinecarrying wheels, comising a cross support carried by said frame andexnding across the said tine wheels, and a flexible sheetse drag memberhaving means securing the same to .id support to extend transverselytherefrom over the sea of said wheels to a position in the path ofmovement Esaid tine wheels to be successively frictionally engaged ombeneath by said tines to control spin thereof.

3. An adjustable drag to control spin of a tedder r like field implementhaving a frame rotatively suporting an axial series of tine carryingwheels, comrising a cross support carried by said frameand :nding aboveand across the said tine wheels, and a exible sheet-likev drag memberhaving means securing to same to said support to extend-transverselythere- 'om over the tines of said wheels to a position in the ath ofmovement of said tine wheels to be, successively 'ictionally engaged.from beneath by said tines to control in thereof.

4. An adjustable-drag tocontrol spin of a tedder or ke field implementhaving a frame rotatively supporting it axial series of tine carryingwheels, comprising a cross ipport carried by said frame and extendingabove and cross the said tine wheels, and a flexible sheet-like ragmember having means securing the same to said upport to extend forwardlytherefrom over the tines f said wheels to a position in the path ofmovement -f said tine wheels to be successively frictionally euaged frombeneath by said tinesto control spin thereof.

5. An adjustable drag to control spin ofa, tedder r likev fieldimplement having a frame rotatively suporting an axial series of tinecarrying wheels, com irising a cross support carried by said frame andexending above and across the said tine wheels, a flexible beet-likedrag member having means securing the same said support to'extendtransversely therefrom over he tines of said wheels to a position in thepath of movement of said tine wheels to be successively fricionallyengaged from beneath by said tines to control pin thereof, said dragmember being secured to said upport and having a substantial portion ofits length vound therearound, and means to rotatively adjust said upportto vary the transversely extending length of said lrag member andthereby varyits frictional, anti-spin :ffect on said tines.

6. An, adjustable drag to control spin of a tedder or ike fieldimplement having aframe rotatively supportng an axial series of tinecarrying wheels, comprising i cross support carried by said frame andextending above and across the said tine wheels, a flexible sheetikedrag member having means securing thev same to said support to extendforwardly therefrom over the ines of said wheels to a position in thepath of movement of said tine wheels to be'successively frictionally en-;aged from beneath, by said tines to control spin thereof, said dragmember being secured to said support and having a substantial portion ofits length wound therearound, and means to rotatively adjust saidsupport to vary the forwardly extending length of said drag member andthereby vary its frictional, anti-spin effect on said tines. I

7'. A tedder or like. field implement having a frame rotativelysupporting an axial series of tine carrying wheels, and an adjustabledrag device to frictionally control spin of the tines of said wheels,comprising an elongated trunnion carried at its ends bysaid frame andextending above and across the'said tine wheels,. at flexible sheet-likedrag member having means securing the same to said trunnion to extendtransversely therefrom over the tines of said wheels to a position inthe path of movement of said tine wheels to besuccessively frictionallyengaged from beneath by said tines to control spin thereof, said dragmember being secured to said trunnion and having a substantial portionof its length wound therearound, and means to rotatively adjust saidsupport to vary the transversely extending length of said drag memberand thereby vary its frictional, anti-spin effect on said tines.

8. A tedder or like field implement having a frame rotatively supportingan axial seriesof tine carrying wheels, and an adjustable drag device tofrictionally control spin of the tines of said wheels, comprising anelongated trunnion carried at its ends by said frame andextending aboveand across the said tines wheels, a flexible sheet-like drag memberhaving means securing the same to said trunnion to extend forwardlytherefrom over the tines of said wheels to a position in the path ofmovement of said tine wheels to be successively frictionally engagedfrom beneath by said tines to control spin thereof, said drag memberbeing secured to said trunnion and having a substantial portion of itslength wound therearound, and means to rotatively adjust said support tovary the forwardly extending length of said drag member and thereby varyits frictional, antispin effect on said tines.

9. An adjustable drag to control spin of a tedder or like fieldimplement having a frame rotatively supporting an axial series of tinecarrying wheels, comprising a support carried by said frame, and asheetlike drag member having means securing the same to said support toextend therefrom to a position in the path of movement of tines ofsaidtine wheels to besuccessively engaged frictionally by said tines andcontrol spinof said wheels.

10. An adjustable drag to-control spin of a tedder or like fieldimplement having a frame rotatively supporting an axial series of timecarrying wheels, comprising; a support carried by said frame, and asheet-like drag member having means securing the same to said support toextend therefrom to a position in the path of movement of tines of saidtine wheels to be successively engaged frictionally by said tines andcontrol spin of said wheels, said securing means comprising an elongatedrotative member extending transversely of said frame and mounted forrotation by said support, said drag member comprising a flexible memberwound about. said rotative member and adjustable to control the positionof the drag member for engagement by said tines by rotation of saidrotative member.

II. A tedder comprising a mobile frame, a transverse:

axle mounted on said frame carrying a plurality of radially extendingtines, a drag element mounted on said frame and having frictionalcontact with said tines during rotation thereof.

.12. A tedder comprising a mobile frame, a tedder unit mounted on saidframe for rotation about a transverse. axis and having a plurality ofradially extending tines, a drag element mounted on said frame andhaving frictional contact with said tedd r unit during rotation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,074,460 Pohl Sept. 30, 1913 1,500,273 SattlerJuly 8, 1924 1,805,564 Bodnar May 19, 1931 2,330,910 Ostman Oct. 5, 19432,595,812 Quillen May 6, 1952 2,703,957 Russell Mar. 15, 1955 2,718,746.Prischmann Sept. 27, 1955 2,771,732 Schramling Nov. 27, 1956

